R  J 

61 

U71 

1916 

DOCS 

1 

UC-NRLF 


B   ^   ES"]   7ST 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

OFFICE  OF  INDL\N  AFFAIRS 


INDIAN  BABIES   Q^^c 

HOW  TO  KEEP  THEM  WELL 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1916 


FOREWORD. 


Mt  Friends  :  Do  you  know  that  one  Indian  baby  out  of  every 
three  dies  before  it  is  3  years  old  because  it  does  not  have  the  right 
kind  of  care? 

The  reports  which  I  receive  from  superintendents,  doctors,  field 
matrons,  and  others  show  this  to  be  true. 

Do  you  know  that  a  great  many  of  these  deaths  can  be  prevented? 
It  is  not  natural  for  a  baby  to  be  sick.  Health  is  its  normal  condi- 
tion. It  is  a  pity,  therefore,  that  so  many  Indian  baby  lives  have 
been  lost  because  the'rr  mothers  did  not  know  how  to  keep  them  well. 
Almost  every  sickness  your  baby  has  had  could  have  been  prevented. 

You  are  very  much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Indian  babies,  and 
I  am,  too.  I  hope  you  will  read  this  pamphlet  and  faithfully  follow 
the  suggestions  it  contains.  Possibly  you  will  find  that  some  of  these 
differ  from  what  you  have  supposed  to  be  the  best  rules  for  taking 
care  of  your  baby.  It  is  because  so  man}'  Indian  mothers  follow 
Avrong  ideas  in  caring  for  their  children  that  so  many  of  them  die. 

I  am  sure,  therefore,  that  if  you  will  endeavor  to  care  for  your 
little  ones  as  suggested  in  this  pamphlet  you  will  be  rewarded  with 
the  best  and  most  wonderful  possession  any  of  us  may  ever  hope  to 
attain — healthy  and  happy  children. 

At  the  close  of  this  pamphlet  you  will  find  my  "  Save  the  Babies  " 
letter  of  January  10,  1016. 

Tell  your  friends  about  this  pamphlet  and  explain  it  to  those  who 
can  not  read.  If  you  desire  more  copies  the  superintendent,  doctor, 
field  matron,  or  any  other  Indian  Service  employee  will  be  glad  to 
obtain  them  for  you. 

Sincerelv,  vour  friend. 


C  omniissioner. 


~i'~ya  c 


^  c 


S. 


(J7i 

INDIAN  BABIES:  HOW  TO  KEEP  THEM  WELL. 


BEFORE  THE  BABY  ARRIVES. 

Motherhood  should  cause  you  no  fear  or  trouble.  As  soon  as  you 
know  a  baby  is  coming,  tell  your  physician  and  field  matron  about 
it.    They  will  tell  you  what  you  must  do  to  keep  well. 

If  you  have  had  one  miscarriage  another  may  be  prevented  by 
proper  treatment.  These  accidents  are  often  caused  by  lifting 
heavy  things  and  by  sudden  jolts,  etc.  They  are  more  dangerous 
than  normal  births. 

If  you  are  going  to  have  a  baby  you  must  have  plenty  of  sleep. 
Do  not  stay  up  late  and  dance  all  night.  Keep  the  windows  open 
while  you  sleep  or,  better  still,  sleep  out  of  doors  when  the  weather 
will  permit.  Take  frequent  baths.  It  is  better  for  you  and  will 
be  better  for  the  baby. 

Keep  your  breasts  clean  and  soften  them  with  a  little  vaseline 
each  day.    If  you  do  this  they  will  not  be  so  apt  to  get  sore. 

Drink  plenty  of  water  and  keep  the  bowels  moving  every  day. 
Eat  clean,  well-cooked  food.  The  baby  must  not  be  starved  before 
it  is  born.  Remember,  however,  that  overeating  is  bad  both  for  you 
and  the  baby.  Do  not  drink  beer  or  other  alcoholic  drinks  or  patent 
medicines. 

AFTER  THE  BABY  IS  BORN. 

Have  the  baby's  birth  reported.  For  many  reasons  it  is  important 
that  the  birth  of  your  child  be  legally  recorded.  Such  a  record  may 
help  you  to  prove  some  day  that-  it  is  an  American  citizen.  It  will 
prove  how  old  it  is,  and  establish  the  right  to  vote,  to  marry,  to  make 
contracts,  to  establish  claims  to  inheritance,  etc.  They  all  depend 
upon  the  filing  of  a  correct  birth  record.  The  superintendent,  phy- 
sician, or  field  matron  will  attend  to  this  for  you,  if  you  ask  them. 

If  you  love  your  baby,  nurse  it  for  the  first  1*2  months.  Ten  babies 
nursed  on  the  bottle  among  white  people  die  to  one  nursed  on  the 
breast.  The  mother's  milk  is  nature's  food  and  is  better  for  the  baby 
than  any  other.  It  is  always  ready  and  is  never  sour.  It  does  not 
have  to  be  prepared  or  measured.  It  will  make  your  baby  strong, 
as  it  is  free  from  o-erms  and  dirt. 


6  INDIAX    BABIES:    HOW    TO    KEEP   THEM    WELL. 

Do  not  wean  the  baby  until  it  has  nursed  10  months  or  a  year,  as 
long  as  it  is  gaining  weight:  but  if  you  are  very  ill  or  think  you  can 
not  nurse,  or  the  baby  is  losing  weight,  consult  the  doctor  and  ask 
liim  how  to  feed  your  baby  from  the  bottle.  Some  Indian  mothers, 
however,  nurse  their  babies  two  or  three  years.  This  is  a  bad  prac- 
tice, both  for  mother  and  baby. 

The  baby  may  be  put  to  the  breast  as  soon  as  it  is  washed,  dressed, 
and  ready  for  the  mother,  if  she  is  not  too  tired.     If  so.  let  her  rest  a 


^■L'KSK    YOL'K    OWN     BABY. 


few  hours.  During  the  first  -24:  hours  the  baby  should  not  nurse 
more  than  four  or  five  times,  but  at  both  breasts  each  time.  If  it 
cries  much  it  can  have  cool  boiled  water.  Do  not  feed  it  tea,  cofee, 
melons,  candy,  or  any  solid  food. 

A  new  baby  Avill  thrive  better  if  the  intervals  between  feedings  is 
fairly  long.     During  the  first  two  days  three  nursings  a  day  and 
one  at  night  are  enough.     From  the  third  day  to  the  fourth  month, 
there  should  be  seven  nursings  in  the  24  hours,  three  hours  apart, 
one  of  them  being  at  night.     Xight  feeding   (after  the  10  o'clock 


INDIAN   BABIES :    HOW    TO    KEEP   THEM   WELL. 


BABY   BEING   AVEIGHED. 


IXDIAX    BABIES:    HOW    TO    KEEP    TIIEM    WELL. 


(.1\E    UAUV     I'LK.MV     Ul     CUUl.,    IJUU.KD    WATEIl 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


9 


nursing)  may  be  omitted  when  the  child  is  4  months  old.  The  fol- 
lowing table  shows  the  nursing  interval  and  the  number  of  feedings 
in  24:  hours  when  the  three-hour  interval  is  used. 


Period. 


First  and  second  days 

Thii'd  day  to  four  months 

Four  to  seven  months 

Seven  to  twelve  months. . 


Nursings 

Interval 

in  24  hours. 

by  day. 

Hours. 

4 

6 

7 

3 

G 

3 

0 

4 

Night 

nursings 

(10  p.  m.  to 

6  a.  m.). 


]\Iothers  must  not  offer  the  breast  everj'  time  the  baby  cries.  Cxive 
the  breast  by  the  clock.  At  other  times  give  pure  water.  Babies,  as 
well  as  adults,  need  water. 


If  you  follow  this  rule  there  will  be  fewer  dead  babies. 

Do  not  give  the  baby  solid  food  until  the  teeth  are  Avell-developed, 
and  then  only  simple,  well-cooked  food,  such  as  bread  and  butter, 
baked  potato,  cereal,  rice,  broths,  soft-boiled  eggs,  or  a  little  fruit. 
All  fruits,  however,  should  be  well  cooked.  After  the  baby  is  a 
year  old  plenty  of  cow's  milk  is  very  good  food.  If  you  can  not  get 
this,  you  may  be  able  to  get  condensed  milk,  which  is  a  good 
substitute  and  many  Indian  babies  thrive  on  it.  Feed  the  baby 
regularly. 

50572°— IG 2 


10  INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 

BOTTLE  FEEDING. 

If  the  baby  must  be  fed  from  the  bottle,  absolute  cleanliness  is 
essential  in  everything  used,  and  the  milk  must  be  modified  or 
diluted  as  the  doctor  directs. 


BABY    VSIXG    NL'KSING   BOTTLE. 


Do  not  use  patent  foods  sometimes  found  in  traders'  stores  unless 
the  doctor  recommends  them. 

Be  sure,  if  3'ou  are  using  cow's  milk,  that  the  cow  is  not  dirty 
when  milked,  that  the  stable  is  not  dirty,  that  the  milk  is  not  dirty. 
The  milk  must  be  clean  and  free  from  germs. 

Many  babies'  deaths  during  the  summer  are  due  to  feeding  impure 
milk  or  milk  which  has  not  been  kept  cool.     To  prevent  milk  from 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP   THEM    WELL. 


11 


making  the  baby  sick,  during  the  hot  weather,  scaki  the  milk  without 
letting  it  boil.  To  do  this  set  a  covered  bottle  of  milk  in  a  saucer  and 
place  this  in  a  shallow  pail.  Pour  water  in  the  pail  until  the  water 
level  is  about  4  inches  from  the  top  of  the  bottle.  Set  on  the  stove, 
and  as  soon  as  the  water  comes  to  a  boil  remove  the  bottle  of  milk 
and  allow  it  to  cool. 

It  is  better  to  prepare  in  this  way  a  day's  feedings  at  one  time,  if 
you  have  some  way  in  which  to  keep  the  milk  cool  afterwards.  Be 
sure  to  keep  it  covered.  Never  keep  the  feeding  bottle  warm  all 
night,  as  germs  will  grow  in  it  and  the  milk  will  get  sour. 

A  double  boiler,  as  illustrated,  is  a  useful  device  for  the  purpose 
of  scalding  milk. 


HOW  TO  KILL  GEKMS  IN  MILK. 


If  you  can  not  afford  to  consult  a  physician  or  there  is  no  agency 
or  school  phj^sician,  read  the  following  instructions  in  regard  to 
feeding  your  baby. 

The  simplest  plan  is  to  use  whole  milk  (taken  before  the  cream 
has  been  allowed  to  rise),  and  dilute  it  according  to  the  child's  age 
and  digestion. 

Beginning  on  the  third  day,  the  average  baby  should  be  given  3 
ounces  of  milk  daily,  diluted  with  7  ounces  of  water.  To  this  should 
be  added  1  tablespoonful  of  lime  water  and  2  even  teaspoonfuls  of 
sugar.  This  should  be  given  in  seven  feedings.  One  ounce  is  about 
two  level  tablespoon fuls. 

At  one  week  the  average  child  requires  5  ounces  of  milk  daily, 
which  should  be  diluted  with  10  ounces  of  water.  To  this  should  be 
added  li  even  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar  and  1  ounce  of  lime  water. 
This  should  be  given  in  seven  feedings. 

The  milk  should  be  increased  half  an  ounce  about  every  four  days. 
And  the  water  should  be  increased  half  an  ounce  about  every  eight 
days. 


12 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


At  3  months  the  average  child  requires  16  ounces  of  milk  daily, 
which  should  be  diluted  with  IG  ounces  of  water.  To  this  should  be 
added  3  even  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar  and  '2  ounces  of  lime  water. 
This  should  be  given  in  six  feedings. 

In  mixing  the  milk  and  water  after  the  third  month,  the  milk 
should  be  increased  half  an  ounce  about  every  six  days,  and  the  water 
should  be  reduced  half  an  ounce  about  every  two  weeks. 

At  6  months  the  average  child  requires  24  ounces  of  milk  daily, 
which  should  be  diluted  with  12  ounces  of  water.    To  this  should  be 


DRESSING   THE   BABY. 


added  2  ounces  of  lime  water  aiul  3  even  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar. 
This  should  be  given  in  five  feedings. 

The  amount  of  milk  should  now  be  increased  half  an  ounce  every 
week. 

The  milk  should  be  increased  if  the  child  is  hungry  and  is  digesting 
his  food  well.  It  should  not  be  increased  unless  he  is  hungry,  or  if 
he  is  suffering  from  indigestion  even  though  he  seems  hungry. 

At  nine  months  the  average  child  requires  30  ounces  of  milk  daily, 
which  should  be  diluted  with  10  ounces  of  water.    To  this  should  be 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


13 


added  2  even  tablespoonfuLs  of  sugar  and  2  ounces  of  lime  water. 
This  siiould  be  given  in  five  feedings. 

The  sugar  added  may  be  milk  sugar,  or,  if  this  can  not  be  obtained, 
cane  sugar  (granuhited  sugar)  or  maltose  (malt  sugai')  may  be  used. 

At  first  plain  water  should  be  used  to  dilute  milk. 

Barley  water:  After  three  months  a  weak  barley  water  may  be 
used  in  place  of  the  plain  water;  it  is  made  by  adding  one-half  level 
tablespoonful  of  barley  flour  to  IG  ounces  of  water  and  cooking  for 
20  minutes. 


SLEEPING    BABY. 


At  six  months  the  barley  flour  may  be  increased  to  1^  even  table- 
spoonfuls  cooked  in  12  ounces  of  water. 

At  nine  months  the  barley  flour  may  be  increased  to  3  level  table- 
spoonfuls  cooked  in  8  ounces  of  water. 

A  very  large  baby  ma}^  require  a  little  more  milk  and  a  small  or 
delicate  baby  will  require  less  than  the  milk  allowed  in  these  direc- 
tions. - 

The  following  table  shows  amount  of  food  required  at  the  different 
ages  and  the  proper  intervals  between  feedings. 


14  INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 

Schedule  for  feeding  healthy  infants  during  the  first  year. 


Age. 

Interval         Night 
between       feedings 
me^lsby       (10  p.m. 
day.         to  7 a.m.). 

Number 
of  feed- 
ings in 

24  hours. 

Quantity 

fori 
feeding. 

Quantity 
for  24 
hours. 

Second  to  seventh  day 

Second  and  tliird  weeks     

Hours. 
3 
3 

1 
1 

1 
1 
0 
0 

7 
7 
7 
7 
6 
5 

Ounces. 

2 '-4 

Ounces. 
10-17 

14-28 

Fourth  to  ninth  week 

3 

3  -4i           21-31 

Tenth  week  to  fifth  month 

Fifth  to  seventh  month 

Seventh  to  twelfth  month 

3 
3 

4 

3^5 

44-6^ 

f)i-9 

24-35 
27-39 
33^5 

Give  the  baby  plenty  of  cool  boiled  water  between  feedings.     Use 
nursino;  bottles  like  this : 


EIGHT    KIND   OF   BOTTLE. 

Do  not  use  a  bottle  with  a  long  tube  like  this. 
clean  and  forms  a  good  hiding  place  for  germs: 


It  is  too  hard  to 


WKONG    KIND    OF    BOTTLK. 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


15 


Many    Indian   babies   when   ^xry   young   are    strapped   by   theii- 
mothers  to  boards  and  cradles. 


A    NAVA.TO    CKADLE. 


This  is  not  good  for  the  baby  as  it  restricts  the  baby's  movements. 
How  would  you  like  to  have  your  arms  and  legs  tied  up  so  you  could 
not  move  them?  It  is  natural  for  a  baby  to  want  to  work  its  arms 
and  legs,  and  we  must  not  stop  him  from  doing  so. 


16  INDIAN    BABIES:    HOW    TO    KEEP   THEM    WELL. 

CLOTHING  THE  BABY. 

Fresh  air. — When  Indian  Ijabies  are  very  young  it  is  wv.i  uncom- 
mon to  see  the  Indian  mothers  cover  the  cradles  entirely  with  a 
blanket.     This  shuts  off  the  fresh  air  from  the  babv  and  does  it 


NOmiAL    BABY    PKOPEULY    DKESSED. 

harm.     It  renders  the  baby  more  likely  to  catch  cold  and  makes  it 
uncomfortably  hot. 

Later  on  when  the  baby  learns  to  walk  he  is  often  allowed  to  run 
about  naked.  This  is  not  good  either.  Babies  must  not  be  either 
smothered  or  frozen. 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


17 


The  baby  is  very  sensitive  to  heat  and  cold.     In  hot  weather 
mothers  shoiikl  not  put  too  many  clothes  on  the  baby.    When  he  <jets 


CIVE    HAliY    PLENTY    OF    FKESH    AIK. 


LET    BAIJY    SLEEP    OUT    OF    DUUltS. 


older,  however,  and  goes  out,  he  should  have  clothing  enough  to 
keep  his  body,  legs,  and  feet  warm  and  dry. 


18 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


Bathing. — Give  the  baby  a  warm  bath  in  a  warm  room  every  day. 
The  best  time  is  just  before  a  morning  feeding  between  8  and  10 
o'clock.  After  its  bath  the  baby  will  be  ready  to  take  its  food  and 
go  to  sleep.  On  very  warm  days  cool  water  spongings  will  be  very 
comfortino;. 


BATHE    BABY    EVEUY    DAY. 


Keep  the  baby's  towels  and  wash  cloths  clean  and  in  a  separate 
place  from  all  others.  Be  sure  that  cloths  which  are  used  around  the 
baby's  eyes  in  bathing  are  perfectly  clean,  or  he  may  catch  trachoma. 


IMPETIGO  CONTAGIOSA  (SOEES). 

This  is  a  long  name  which  is  given  to  the  "sores"  which  are  often 
seen  on  the  faces  and  hands  of  Indian  children.  It  is  contagious 
("catching")  and  often  spreads  among  all  the  children  of  the  same 
family  or  those  children  who  play  together. 

When  the  trouble  starts,  all  that  can  be  seen  is  a  small  vesicle 
(blister)  about  the  size  of  a  pinhead,  most  often  on  the  face.  It  soon 
spreads  until  it  is  about  the  size  of  a  dime.  "Within  a  few  days  straw- 
colored  crusts  form.  Avhich  are  loose  at  the  edges  and  appear  as  if 
stuck  on  the  skin.     If  one  of  the  crusts  is  pulled  off  it  leaves  a  red 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


19 


spot  which  may  ooze  a  drop  of  blood.     AVhen  the  scab  falls  off  a 
small  spot  is  left  which  gradually  fades. 

This  disease  gives  the  child  a  nasty  appearance,  and  it  may  spread 
the  disease  to  other  children,  so  you  should  make  haste  to  cure  th-e 
trouble.  The  physicians  or  field  matrons  will  gladly  help  you.  The 
crusts  may  be  removed  with  soap  and  water.  Sometimes  it  is  well 
to  soften  them  with  vaseline.  After  the  crusts  are  removed  apply  5 
per  cent  carbolized  vaseline  or  ointment  of  ammoniated  mercury. 


BABY    WITH 


HEAD  LICE. 

Children  often  become  infested  with  lice,  whicli  multiply  very 
readily.  The  "nits"  (little  whitish  bodies)  are  glued  to  the  hair 
with  a  substance  which  is  secreted  by  the  female  louse.  The  lice 
cause  irritation  of  the  scalp  and  the  child  scratches  vigorously  to 
relieve  the  itching,  and  often  makes  sores  on  its  head  by  so  doing, 
therefore  you  should  try  to  keep  the  child's  head  free  from  these 
pests.  Consult  your  doctor  or  the  field  matron  if  you  can.  If  you 
can  not,  a  thorough  application  of  kerosene  oil  will  get  rid  of  the 
lice  if  left  on  the  scalp  for  12  to  21  hours  and  then  removed  with  soap 
and  water.  The  nits  can  be  removed  from  the  hair  with  vinegar. 
Be  careful  not  to  get  either  of  these  remedies  in  the  child's  eyes. 

Blue  ointment  is  often  asked  for  b}'  Indians,  and  is  beneficial,  but 
is  rather  a  nasty  remedy. 


20 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 

BODY  LICE. 


Body  lice  are  also  troublesome  and  cause  itching.  They  have  been 
found  to  spread  typhus  fever.  To  get  rid  of  the  body  louse,  boil  all 
cotton  clothes  and  bake  woolen  clothes  in  a  hot  oven,  whiph  will  kill 


BODY    LOUSE. 

(he  lice.  If  this  can  not  be  done,  a  teaspoonful  of  powdered  sulphur 
may  be  placed  in  the  bed,  and  rubbed  into  the  seams  of  the  clothing, 
and  a  2  per  cent  ointment  of  carbolic  acid  applied  to  the  body. 

SCABIES  ("ITCH")- 

This  disease  is  accompanied  by  itching  and  is  caused  by  the  itch 
mite. 


ITCH    MITE. 


The  itch  mite  digs  into  the  skin,  and  you  can  sometimes  see  the 
burrow.s — little   dotted   lines   about  one-fifth   of   an   inch   in   length. 


INDIAN    babies:    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL.  21 

The  dots  are  the  eggs.  At  the  inner  end  of  the  burrow  may  some- 
times be  seen  the  itch  mite,  a  bright  shining  speck. 

The  itch  is  so  severe  that  tlie  child  scratches  itself  until  it  makes 
sores.  The  places  which  itch  the  worst  are  the  tender  places  in  the 
skin  such  as  between  the  fingers,  backs  of  the  hands,  arm  pits,  and 
around  the  breasts.  This  disease  is  usually  caught  by  one  child 
sleeping  with  some  one  who  has  the  trouble. 

Consult  the  doctor  or  the  field  matron.  If  you  can  not,  give  the 
child  a  bath  in  hot  water  and  soap,  dry  the  skin  vigorously  with  a 
rough  towel,  and  rub  sulphur  ointment  into  every  spot  that  itches. 
Use  the  sulphur  ointment  morning  and  night  for  three  days,  having 
the  child  wear  the  same  underclothes.  Then  give  the  child  a  bath 
with  soap  and  water,  and  the  patient  should  be  well.  It  is  a  good 
thing  to  throw  into  the  bed  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  powdered  sulphur. 

In  all  cases  the  clothing  and  bed 
must  be  disinfected.  Boil  every- 
thing that  will  stand  it.  Clothing 
may  be  baked  or  ironed  with  a 
very  hot  iron.  All  the  children  of 
the  family,  as  well  as  any  grown- 
ups who  may  be  infested,  should 
be  treated  at  the  same  time. 

FLIES. 

Here  is  a  picture  of  the  baby's 
worst  enemy — the  house  fly.  Do 
not  allow  flies  on  the  babv's  face  or 

T       ..,  -r^  „  '  ,  BABY'S    WOKST   ENEMY. 

bottle.     Do  not  allow  them  on  the 

table  or  in  your  house.  Flies  feed  on  manure,  spit,  and  other  filth. 
Flies'  hairy  legs  are  covered  with  germs  which  they  carry  to  food,  in- 
fecting it.  They  are  disease  carriers.  They  infect  meat,  melons,  and 
all  food  they  touch.  Many  Indian  babies  have  died  in  the  summer 
time  from  diseases  carried  by  flies. 

Keep  flies  from  the  sick,  especially  those  who  have  contagious 
diseases.    They  may  carry  the  disease  to  others. 

Screen  all  windows  and  doors.  Cover  all  food  after  a  meal.  If 
there  is  no  dirt  or  filth  there  will  be  no  flies.  If  you  have  flies  there 
are  breeding  places  near  by.  It  may  be  behind  the  door,  under  the 
table,  or  in  decaying  food  in  your  j^ard.  Do  not  have  corrals  or 
barns  near  the  house,  and  do  not  have  burros  or  horses  tied  close  to 
your  door. 

Kill  all  the  flies  you  see.  It  has  been  said  that  in  one  season  a 
female  fly  may  have  5,000,000,000,000  offspring.     Poison,  tangle, 

TRAP,  AND  SWAT.       GeT  THE  HABIT. 


22 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


TUBERCULOSIS  (CONSUMPTION). 

Many  Indians  have  this  disease.  It  is  catching  and  is  caused  by 
a  germ.  Many  of  the  "  kernels "  or  enhirged  glands  in  the  neck 
among  Indian  children  are  due  to  this  germ.  Flies  are  active  in 
spreading  it  by  carrying  germs  to  your  home  and  depositing  them 
(•n  the  food  3'ou  eat  and  in  the  milk  and  water  you  drink. 

The  most  common  source  among  Indians  !•=  the  spit  from  those 
Indians  who  already  have  the  disease.  Consumptives  are  much  more 
dangerous  to  infants  and  young  children  than  to  adults.  If  a  patient 
is  careless  with  his  spit,  he  may  spread  the  disease  to  his  friends  and 

family  and  lessen  his  own 
chances  of  getting  well.  '\Mien 
it  is  necessary  for  him  to  cough 
or  spit  he  should  use  a  paper 
napkin  or  a  rag,  Avhich  can  be 
burned  before  it  becomes  dry 
and  which  can  be  kept  from  the 
flies.  Better  than  either  a  rag 
or  a  napkin  are  the  spit  cups 
which  are  furnished  to  the  In- 
dian Service  physicians,  and 
which  you  can  obtain  for  the 
asking.  These  cups  should  also 
be  burned  after  being  used. 

If  3'ou  have  some  one  in  your 
home  who  is  sick  with  consump- 
tion,  make   them   use   either   a 
sputum  cup,  rag.  or  napkin  to 
spit  in,  and  be  sure  to  burn  these 
before  the  spit  becomes  dry. 
Anyone  Avith  consumption  should  never  swalknv  his  own  spit,  be- 
cause in  this  way  the  disease  might  be  carried  to  the  stonuich  and 
bowels. 

A  person  having  consumption  should  stay  in  the  open  air  as 
much  as  possible.  If  he  sleeps  in  the  house  it  should  be  well  venti- 
lated. The  room  in  which  he  sleeps  should  have  at  least  two  win- 
do\\s,  and  tlie  windows  should  be  on  at  least  two  ditl'orent  sides  of 
the  room. 

He  may  slee])  out  of  doors  with  benefit.  Sun  autl  air  every  day 
the  room  in  which  a  consumptive  sits. 

Eggs  and  milk  are  two  very  good  foods  for  hiui.  ITe  should 
drink  no  whisky  or  alcohol  in  any  form. 

Cold  will  not  hurt  the  consumptive  if  he  is  Avarmly  clad.  Keep 
your  homes  a  entilated.    Where  there  are  many  persons  in  one  room 


A    SANrrAKY    SPUTVil    CUP. 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


23 


without  ventilation  the  air  becomes  very  bad  and  tends  to  make 
their  health  poor.  If  one  of  them  has  tuberculosis  the  rest  have  a 
good  chance  to  catch  it.  Therefore,  place  more  windows  in  your 
home. 

Do  not  practice  overcrowding.  Stay  away  from  those  houses 
where  you  know  Indians  have  tuberculosis.  Your  child  may  catch 
it,  even  if  j^ou  do  not.  Overheated  houses  make  you  more  likely  to 
catch  cold,  and  a  bad  cold  is  often  the  wav  a  case  of  tuberculosis  Iw- 


AN  INDIAN   HOSPITAL  COTTAGE  WHKKE  CONSUMPTIVES  GET   WELL. 

gins.    Whenever,  therefore,  you  have  a  bad  cold  j^ou  should  consult 
the  doctor. 

Dishes  used  by  consumptives  should  not  be  used  by  others,  and 
they  should  be  boiled  after  being  used  by  the  sick  person,  in  order 
to  kill  any  germs  which  may  be  on  them. 


VACCINATION. 

Have  your  baby  vaccinated.  If  all  Indians  would  be  vaccinated 
every  five  years  there  would  be  no  smallpox  on  Indian  reservations. 
Persons  who  are  properly  vaccinated  seldom  have  smallpox.  Have 
the  physician  vaccinate  you  and  your  baby,  and  return  to  see  him 
as  often  as  necessary. 


24 


IXDIAX    BABIES  :    liOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


Wiiei°lD)(0)¥W°PMEFEl>  f 


LEK. 


.ILLINOIS  STATE- BOARDof  HEALTH 


PUBLIC  HEALThhCARTOON  SERIES.NV 


TRACHOMA   (SORE  EYES). 

Watch  Yonr  baby's  eyes,  especially  if  any  of  the  family  have 
trachoma.  You  have  seen  many  Indians  with  "sore  eyes'*  and  know 
how  much  pain  they  suffer  and  how  many  of  them  lose  their  sight, 
some  of  them  becoming  totally  blind.  The  matter  from  these  "  sore 
eyes"  is  very  contagious,  and  will  surely  give  your  baby  trachoma 
if  any  of  it  gets  into  the  baby's  eyes.  Therefore  do  not  allow  anyone 
to  use  the  towels  or  wash  cloths  that  belong  to  the  baby.  Do  not  wipe 
the  baby's  eyes  with  anything  dirty.  Trachoma  spreads  very  rap- 
idly in  dirty  homes.  Keep  your  homes  clean  and  your  towels,  hand- 
kerchiefs, bedding,  clothing,  and  bodies  clean. 

Have  the  baby's  eyes  examined  by  the  doctor  from  time  to  time  to 
see  whether  he  may  have  trachoma.  This  disease  can  be  cured  and 
the  eyesight  saved  if  treatment  is  given  early.  T'nless  the  treatment 
is  kept  up  for  many  months  the  disease  will  not  be  cured.  If  you 
have  sore  eyes,  go  to  the  doctor  at  once. 

Indians  having  trachoma  should  have  their  toAvels.  handkerchiefs, 
wash  cloths,  and  washbasins  separate  from  those  used  by  well  persons. 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


25 


HOSPITALS. 

On  some  of  the  reservations  hospitals  have  been  erected  where  the 
sick  grown-ups  and  the  Indian  babies  as  well  may  receive  treatment. 

Many  diseases  can  be  handled  better  in  a  hospital  than  at  home. 
This  is  true  of  tuberculosis  (consumption),  trachoma  (sore  eyes), 
pneumonia,  any  serious  lung  trouble,  and  many  other  diseases. 

Mothers  should  go  to  hospitals  when  their  babies  are  about  to  be 
born,  especially  those  women  mIio  have  had  trouble  before.     The 


AN  INDIAN  SERVICE  HOSPITAL. 


mothers  can  then  have  good  treatment  and  the  babies  will  get  a  good 
start  in  life. 

AMien  the  superintendent  or  physician  tells  you  you  ought  to  go 
to  a  hospital,  you  should  go  at  once. 

Of  course,  all  Indians  treated  in  hospitals  do  not  get  Avell,  but 
almost  all  of  them  do.  You  are  much  more  likely  to  get  well  if 
treated  in  a  hospital  than  if  treated  any  other  Avay. 


26 


INDIAX    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP   THEM    WELL. 


SAVE  THE  BABIES. 

January   10,  lOlfi. 
To  superintendents  and  other  employees  of  the  United  States  Indian  Service: 

In  au  address  before  the  Congress  on  Indian  Progress  held  at  San  Francisco  in  August 
of  last  year  I  said  : 

It  is  our  cliief  duty  to  protect  the  Indian's  health  and  to  save  him  from  premature 
death.  Before  we  educate  him,  l)efore  we  conserve  his  property,  we  should  save  his  life. 
If  he  is  to  be  perpetuated,  we  must  care  for  the  children.  We  must  stop  the  tendency  of 
the  Indian  to  diminish  in  number,  and  restore  a  condition  that  will  insure  his  increase. 
Every  Indian  hospital  bed  not  necessarily  occupied  with  those  suffering  from  disease  or 
injury  should  be  available  for  the  mother  in  childbirth.  It  is  of  first  importance  that  we 
begin"  by  reestablishing  the  health  and  constitution  of  Indian  children.  Education  and 
protection  of  property  are  highly  important,  but  everything  is  secondary  to  the  basic 
condition  which  makes  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  race. 

That  thought  has  deepened  its  hold  upon  my  convictions. 

We  must  guarantee  to  the  Indian  the  first  of  inalienable  rights — the  right  to  live. 
No  race  was  ever  created  for  utter  extinction.  The  chief  concern  of  all  ethics  and  all 
science  and  all  philosophies  is  life. 

The  Indian  has  demonstrated  his  humanity  and  his  capacity  for  intellectual  and 
moral  progress  amid  conditions  not  always  propitious,  and  I  am  eager  to  participate 
with  all  the  favoring  forces  that  contribute  to  his  racial  triumph,  believing  as  I  do 
that  when  he  comes  to  himself  as  a  factor  in  the  modern  world  his  achievements  will 
enrich  and  brighten  the  civilization  of  his  native  land. 

I  should  like  to  get  the  feeling  I  have  upon  this  question  into  the  conscience  and 
aspirations  of  every  Indian  Service  employee  until  there  shall  prevail  a  sort  of  righteous 
passion  to  see  that  every  Indian  child  has  a  fair  chance  to  live. 

There  is  something  fundamental  here. 

We  can  not  solve  the  Indian  problem  without  Indians.  'We  can  not  educate  their 
children  unless  they  are  kept  alive. 

All  our  Indian  schools,  reservations,  individual  allotments,  and  accumulated  incomes 
tend  pathetically  toward  a  wasted  altruism  if  maintained  and  conserved  for  a  withering, 
decadent    people. 

If  we  have  an  Indian  policy  worthy  of  the  name,  its  goal  must  be  an  enduring  and 
sturdy  race,  true  to  the  noblest  of  its  original  instincts  and  virtues  and  loyally  sympa- 
thetic with  our  social  and  national  life  ;  a  body  of  efficient  citizens  blending  their  unique 
poise  and  powers  with  the  keen  and  sleepless  vigor  of  the  white  man. 

We  must,  therefore,  renew  daily  our  warfare  against  the  arch  foe  of  efficiency — 
disease. 

We  must  begin  at  the  right  place — not  only  with  the  infant  at  its  mother's  breast 
but    with    the   unborn    generation. 

The  new  campaign  for  health  in  which  I  would  enlist  you  is  first  of  all  to  save  the 
babies  ! 

Statistics  startle  us  with  the  fact  that  approximately  three-fifths  of  the  Indian  infants 
die  before  the  age  of  5  years. 

Of  what  use  to  this  mournful  mortality  are  our  splendidly  equipped  schools? 

I  earnestly  call  upon  every  Indian  Bureau  employee  to  help  reduce  this  frightful 
percentage  I  Superintendents,  teachers,  physicians,  matrons,  nurses,  everyone  can  do 
something  by  instruction  or  example,  the  physician  with  his  science,  the  nurse  with 
her  trained  skill,  the  matron  with  her  motherly  solicitude,  all  of  us  by  personal  hygiene, 
cleanliness,  and  sobriety. 

With  this  idea  uppermost,  all  employees  whose  duties  bring  them  in  touch  with 
Indian  families  must  work  in  closest  harmony  for  surrounding  the  expectant  Indian 
mother  with  favorable  health  conditions  before  and  after  childbirth.  The  sanitation 
of  the  homes  of  such  women  should  have  special  attention,  and  no  baby  allowed  to  be 
born  into  an  environment  germinating  disease  if  prevention   is  available. 

The  simplest  rules  of  motherhood  applied  under  intelligent  and  friendly  direction 
would  save  most  of  the  Indian  babies  who  annually  fill  untimely  graves. 

27 


28  INDIAN  babies:  how  to  keep  them  well. 

I  want  to  send  this  safety,  as  far  as  possible,  into  every  home  of  an  Indian  mother, 
whether  that  home  l)e  a  tepee,  a  tent,  a  log  house  with  dirt  floors,  or  a  more  com- 
fortable abode. 

This  means  work,  hard  work,  but  the  reward  will  be  living  souls. 

I  shall  expect  each  superintendent  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  home  conditions 
of  every  Indian  family  on  the  reservation  and  to  adopt  practical  and  effective  means 
for    quick    and    certain    improvement. 

Superintendents  must  organize  such  a  system  of  cooperative  information  through 
their  employees  as  will  enable  them  to  do  this,  exercising,  of  course,  great  care  and 
discretion    in    gathering    the    requisite   information. 

I  shall  consider,  on  the  superintendent's  recommendation,  a  reasonable  use  of  indi- 
vidual Indian  moneys  for  the  improvement  of  insanitary  homes,  where  the  family 
has  such  funds.  In  the  absence  of  such  moneys,  every  effort  must  be  made  to  seciire 
clean  and  wholesome  conditions  through  the  efforts  of  the  adult  members  of  the  family. 
If  there  are  no  members  physically  able  to  labor,  expenditure  may  be  recommended 
from   the  funds   "  Relieving  distress  and   prevention,   etc.,   of  disease   among   Indians." 

The  crux  of  the  matter  is  this  :  We  must,  if  possible,  get  rid  of  the  intolerable 
conditions  that  infest  some  of  the  Indian  homes  on  the  reservation,  creating  an  atmos- 
phere of  death  instead  of  life. 

It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  field  matron  to  learn  of  conditions  existing  in  Indian  homes 
and  of  cases  requiring  medical  attention  and  report  them  to  the  superintendent.-  It 
will  be  her  duty  to  see  that  the  prospective  mother  knows  what  equipment  is  necessary 
for  the  proper  care  of  her  new-born  babe,  and  the  importance  of  the  provision  wftich 
the  husband  should  make  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  mother  and  child  should  be 
early  and  urgently  impressed  upon   him. 

Physicians  must  be  promptly  advised  of  all  cases  of  prospective  motherhood  and 
they  must  see  that  proper  attention  Is  given  before  and  after  that  event,  arranging,  if 
practicable,  for  hospital  facilities  where  the  :Bbme  surroundings  are  unfavorable.  Spe- 
cial effort  should  be  made  to  see  that  the  mother  has  nourishing  food  before  and 
following  childbirth. 

I  am  advised  that  the  death  rate  among  Indian  babies  is  most  excessive  after  the 
nursing  period  when,  through  ignorance  or  carelessness,  they  are  given  improper  food, 
such  as  green  fruits,  melons,  or  corn,  made  further  harmful,  perhaps,  by  the  presence  of 
flies,  and  from  the  use  of  which  intestinal   disorders  are  almost  sure  to   follow. 

There  should  be  vigilant  and  unrelenting  effort  to  impress  upon  parents  the  great 
importance  of  supplying  food  which  will  furnish  proper  nourishment  for  the  growing 
child.  There  should  be  constant  endeavor  to  educate  parents  to  an  understanding  of 
the  value  of  a  sufficient  supply  of  cow's  or  goat's  milk,  or  condensed  milk,  pure  water, 
and  suitable  solid  food,  and  to  the  necessity  of  maintaining  cleanliness  of  person,  cook- 
ing utensils,  and  other  articles  of  domestic  use. 

It  would  be  worth  while,  it  would  be  great,  if  we  could  lift  the  Indian  out  of  his 
uninformed  condition  and  induce  him  to  see  that  the  natural  and  beautiful  love  he  has 
for  his  children  will  not  keep  them  alive  and  well  and  joyous  unless  supplemented  by 
a  rational  use  of  food,  clothing,  fresh  air,  and  pure  water. 

If  Government  aid  is  necessary  to  bring  health  out  of  disease  and  squalor,  it  should 
not  be  withheld,  but  good  results  if  obtained  will  scarcely  continue  unless  the  Indian 
parents  exchange  indolence  for  industry  and  are  awakened  to  the  use  and  beauty  of 
personal  and  environing  cleanliness. 

This  campaign  for  better  babies,  for  the  rescue  of  a  race,  calls  for  rodouliled  energy 
and  zeal  throughout  the  service,  for  it  means  p(>rsonal  work  and  tireless  patience. 
It  is  a  well-nigh  stupendous  task,  but  will  be  a  glorious  one  if  we  can  make  successful 
headway. 

I  believe  that  the  high  aspirations  and  missionary  spirit  generally  prevailing  among 
our  field  employees  are  a  guaranty  of  substantial  and  lasting  achievements,  and  I  hope 
and  believe  we  shall  have  the  quickened  cooperation  of  all  denominational  agencies,  re- 
ligious missionaries,  and  mission  schools  having  special  interest  in  the  Indian's  spiritual 
Avelfare  and  whose  priceless  labors,  luminant  with  self-sacrifice  and  religious  fervor, 
have  done  so  much  for  the  red  man.  We  shall  all,  I  am  sure,  exert  an  irresistible 
union    of   effort. 

The  educational  itropaganda  against  disease  must,  of  course,  be  steadily  increased 
and  strengthened.  Our  Indian  schools,  where  so  nmny  of  the  rising  generations  are 
assembled,  are  well  organized  and  should  be  a  mighty  instrumentality  for  health  and 
higher  ideals  of  life.  In  their  education  of  girls  I  hope  to  see  added  emphasis  given  to 
such  subjects  as  home  nursing,  child  welfare  and  motherhood,  the  sanitation,  arrange- 
ment, and  management  of  the  home,  and  that  nothing  reasonable  shall  be  spared  to  fit 
every   Indian   girl   for  intelligent   housekeeping  and   for   attractive   home   making. 


INDIAN    BABIES  :    HOW    TO    KEEP    THEM    WELL. 


29 


There  is  amonj;  the  Indians  a  marked  and  tender  affection  for  their  children,  but 
too  often  the  wife,  the  mother,  is  regarded  and  treated  as  the  burden  bearer.  I  wish 
we  might  see  this  habit  overcome,  for  it  is  distinctly  barbaric.  I  want  to  see  developed 
and  prevalent  in  every  Indian  school  from  the  least  to  the  largest  that  modern  and 
truly  chivalrous  spirit  that  recognizes  and  respects  the  sacredness  of  womanhood.  I 
should  like  to  have  every  Indian  boy  leave  school  with  this  lofty  and  just  sentiment 
fused  into  his  character,  as  the  picture  in  the  porcelain,  liecause  of  the  deep  and  ex- 
quisite power  it  will  have  to  bless  his  future  home  with  health  and  happiness. 

While,  therefore,  this  appeal  aims  primarily  at  the  safety  and  health  of  the  child 
and  is  intended  to  enforce  the  thought  that  the  future  of  the  Indian  race  may  depend 
vitally  upon  what  we  shall  be  able  to  accomplish  for  its  new  generation,  it  is  also  a 
message  of  reinforcement  to  every  utterance  and  every  effort  expressed  or  put  forth 
within  the  Indian  Service  in  behalf  of  the  adult  against  tuberculosis,  trachoma,  and 
every  other  disease  ;  against  the  liquor  curse  and  the  use  of  any  kind  of  enervating 
drug  or  dope.  I  look  to  the  schools  chiefly  to  safeguard  the  boys  and  girls  enrolled 
there  against  these  deadly  scourges,  and  there  must  be  no  abatement  but  rather  re- 
newed  and  continuing  energies   in   this   direction. 

In  closing,  I  ask  every  employee  to  do  his  or  her  part  in  widening  our  work  against 
disease  until  our   Indian   reservations  become   the   home   of   healthy,    happy,   bright-eyed 
children  with  a  fair  start  in  life,  and  our  schools  become  impregnable  defenses  against 
every  enemy   to   healthy  and   high-minded   boys  and  girls. 
.  .    Sincerely,    yours, 

Cato  Sells,  Commi.<isionrr. 


HEALTHY   INDIAN    BABY. 


o 


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